Leah Gazan Demands Accountability for Racial Insensitivity

In a heated session in the House of Commons on Thursday, Conservative MP Brad Redekopp issued an apology following an accusation from an Indigenous colleague regarding a racially insensitive remark. This incident highlights ongoing tensions and issues surrounding systemic racism in Canada’s political discourse.

Redekopp, representing Saskatoon, initially made the contentious comment during a debate on measures addressing systemic racism within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). He referred to the 2022 mass stabbings in Saskatchewan and criticized the parole officers for releasing Myles Sanderson, who later committed the crimes. Redekopp incorrectly suggested that the parole board had predicted Sanderson “was likely to reoffend because of his racial background.”

Following backlash, Redekopp sought to amend the record, changing the wording to “regardless of his racial background” instead of “because of his racial background.” He proactively asked for the record to be corrected to avoid any misunderstanding or offence.

Winnipeg MP Leah Gazan, who noticed the change in the House of Commons official record the next day, demanded accountability from Redekopp. She insisted that the original comment should be reflected in the record and accused the Conservatives of attempting to “whitewash” the incident.

Gazan voiced her discontent in the House of Commons, stating, “What he said in there was hurtful, it was harmful, it was offensive and it was racist.” Despite Redekopp’s apology, Gazan did not accept his explanation or the manner of his apology, calling for the official record to reflect his initial comment.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of anti-Indigenous rhetoric from Conservative politicians, according to Gazan. She cited several past instances, including:

• Saskatchewan MP Kevin Waugh’s apology after accusing First Nations of burning down water treatment plants out of frustration with the Liberals.
• The opposition from 10 Conservative MPs in 2018 to an NDP motion calling on the Pope to apologize for residential schools.
• Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s controversial comments and affiliations, including his statement in 2008 suggesting Indigenous people need to learn the value of hard work over compensation for abuse suffered in residential schools.

An investigation into the early release of Myles Sanderson, who killed 11 people and injured 17 others, concluded that the Parole Board of Canada could not have foreseen the tragic events. The National Joint Board of Investigation found no pre-incident indicators that could have prevented the incident.

The debate over Redekopp’s comment and subsequent apology underscores the ongoing challenges of addressing systemic racism and ensuring accountability within Canada’s political landscape. As Gazan pointed out, there remains a need for reflection and genuine commitment to confronting and correcting anti-Indigenous rhetoric and actions.